WHO IS MANAGER?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1320, 26 December 1911, Page 4

WHO IS MANAGER?

(To tho Editor.) Sir,—l venture lo say the majority of ratepayers, and business men in particular, were considerably shocked when they read t.hn report of the council's attitude with reference lo Inspector Fuller. It seems lo mo tho curse of a large number . of our public inon is what is known as "playing to the gallery," and this is carried on to such an extent as to nioko ratepayers' interests merely of sccontlury importance 'as , compared with the indivi> dual's popularity. This point carries agood deal of weight when it is remembered Hint those who voted against' supporting Mr. Richardson in the carrying out of his onerous duties were candidates during tho lust Parliamentary election. What is needed on our council to-day, and, in fact, in every department, of public -life, is men who havo practical experience in the carrying on of any branch of industry'which is a training for the largest sphere of controlling the muuicipality. In tho present case our councillors, or rather those of them who voted against Inspector Fuller's retention, failed to realise that they are tho board of directors of a huge, company, Ilia shareholders of which are. the ratepayers, and tho managing director, or responsible head, being Mr. Kichardfion. I would like to ask whether any sane board of directors of any company in this or any other portion of tho world would havo received a private and conidcntial communication from their managing director, containing as it \yould information which, if made public, would be likely to cause trouble, and then make the matter public, forcing their responsible head to give explanations, and to bo practically put on the carpet by his own employees. To me it seems preposterous that Mr. Richardson should have bern. placed in this unfair position, and 1 do not wonder nt tho lone he displayed as per your report in this morning's paper. It seems to me that tho discipline of.the whole tramway service has been very seriously affected by this false move of tho council's and it is quito evident, unless Mr. Richardson is going to receive Iho respect which his position deniands, that tho running of this huge department is going to bo unsatisfactory. Boiled down, tho position is this: Who is Iho manager of our tramways—the Tramways Union or Mr. Richardson? Tf Ihn latter, then why over-rjdo him, and filiikc n blow at the discipline of the wholo service, besides which it is an insult lo Mr. Richardson. It would be interesting to havo some of the councillors' (nbove referred to) views on this question, especially those of tho Mayor, Mr.T.M.Wilford.-la l n,oJc., G _ Hir^ Wellington, December 22, 1911.